I'm surprised Rik Smits hasn't worked with Hibbert. Doesn't Rik live in Indy? He'd be perfect for Roy.

Richard_Skull

07-06-2011, 01:27 AM

Didn't he work with Kobe as well, or was that someone else?
Also, what would it take to get him here to help Roy? I'm sure Roy isn't the only one who would like to enlist Hakeem's guidance/help.

Isaac

07-06-2011, 02:17 AM

Didn't he work with Kobe as well, or was that someone else?

He did work with Kobe and there was a noticeable difference in his post game.

I have been an advocate of bringing in a big man coach like Hakeem, Kareem, Pat, etc. for many years, as have UB and several others. Now it appears we are downsizing our coaching staff and going with only 3 assistants? No question it would help Roy.

OakMoses

07-06-2011, 08:21 AM

Roy should work out with Anthony Costanzo.

graphic-er

07-06-2011, 08:23 AM

Rik Smits has said that he would work with Roy whenever Roy is ready to reach out to him.

Kegboy

07-06-2011, 08:40 AM

I'm sure Roy gets plenty of exposure to great players through the Georgetown fraternity, and will get opportunities to work with those not on the NBA's payroll this offseason.

IMO, right now he needs to concentrate more on his own game and feeling comfortable in his own skin, as opposed to trying to emulate others.

Reginald

07-06-2011, 09:09 AM

IMO, right now he needs to concentrate more on his own game and feeling comfortable in his own skin, as opposed to trying to emulate others.

What does that even mean? Are you saying he should try to teach himself to be a better post-up player as opposed to getting pointers from the greatest post-up center to ever play the game?

Skaut_Ech

07-06-2011, 09:10 AM

I think a simpler idea would to hook Roy back up with Bill Walton. I think he really had an effect on him despite the short time together and I would assume the lines of communication with Bird and Bill are still open.

docpaul

07-06-2011, 09:32 AM

What does that even mean? Are you saying he should try to teach himself to be a better post-up player as opposed to getting pointers from the greatest post-up center to ever play the game?

I think he's simply saying that Hibbert has got to get out of his own head and just simply have self confidence and play through mistakes. He plays too "small" which is mostly a mental thing to tackle. A little confidence and true swagger would go a long way with him. :)

Kegboy

07-06-2011, 10:07 AM

I think he's simply saying that Hibbert has got to get out of his own head and just simply have self confidence and play through mistakes. He plays too "small" which is mostly a mental thing to tackle. A little confidence and true swagger would go a long way with him. :)

Yep. Roy's problem isn't technique, it's confidence. Trying to get him to play "like" someone else isn't going to help in that regard. He'll only succeed when he's his own man. Then he'll be in a better position to take input and instruction from others constructively.

Justin Tyme

07-06-2011, 10:14 AM

He did work with Kobe and there was a noticeable difference in his post game.

I have been an advocate of bringing in a big man coach like Hakeem, Kareem, Pat, etc. for many years, as have UB and several others. Now it appears we are downsizing our coaching staff and going with only 3 assistants? No question it would help Roy.

I've NEVER understood the reluctance of the Pacers to hire a Big Man coach! This goes back to Walsh. It's just so dadgum frustrating to see players like Hibbert, McBob, and Hans not get the proper help to increase their game for the good of the team. It's an investment in the future that will pay dividends for team's overall game. Isn't increasing the players ability to play the game at a better level tied to the success of the team? Frustrating, GRRR!

Justin Tyme

07-06-2011, 10:27 AM

I think he's simply saying that Hibbert has got to get out of his own head and just simply have self confidence and play through mistakes. He plays too "small" which is mostly a mental thing to tackle. A little confidence and true swagger would go a long way with him. :)

Yes, and teachers/tudors can do just that. They can inspire their pupils to be better by showing them how, and through encouragement they help develop and instill confidence in the pupil.

Reginald

07-06-2011, 10:35 AM

Yep. Roy's problem isn't technique, it's confidence. Trying to get him to play "like" someone else isn't going to help in that regard.

Completely disagree. For sure, Roy could use a nice dose of confidence. But Olajuwon's preternatural anticipation and post-up instincts are something Hibbert will never, ever come close to duplicating through self-evaluation and playing pickup games with his Georgetown cronies, no matter how confident he gets.

I couldn't care less about Hibbert "being his own man." If he has the length and agility to be like Olajuwon, he'd be stupid--and an exponentially inferior player--if he did not emulate him.

BRushWithDeath

07-06-2011, 10:38 AM

If he has the length and agility to be like Olajuwon, he'd be stupid--and an exponentially inferior player--if he did not emulate him.

He doesn't.

ballism

07-06-2011, 10:49 AM

You don't have to have Hakeem's agility to make great use of post footwork and post skills. Look at older Sabonis or even older Hakeem himself.
Idk if Hakeem is a great teacher or not - that stint with Dwight was extremely short, a couple days or so? I doubt that you can credit Dwight's improvement this year only to his work with Hakeem.
Either way, Hibbert has a lot to work on. Strength and confidence is a top priority for the most immediate future, but using his body properly is right up there.

Reginald

07-06-2011, 12:34 PM

Idk if Hakeem is a great teacher or not - that stint with Dwight was extremely short, a couple days or so? I doubt that you can credit Dwight's improvement this year only to his work with Hakeem.

Kobe credited Olajuwon with improving his post-up game and footwork after only a two-hour workout. Same goes for Thabeet (http://www.myfoxhouston.com/dpp/sports/090926_olajuwon_works_with_grizzlies_thabeet).

Speed

07-06-2011, 12:50 PM

If Roy can put on 15 lbs pure muscle in his trunk (quads, buttocks) and beef up on his shoulder traps area, alot of the "mental" stuff would go away, I think.

The thing I HATE about saying that is it invites knee, foot, ankle problems in big guys to put on too much weight. So I'll qualify it with 'if he can carry it'.

PR07

07-06-2011, 01:23 PM

I don't see how it would hurt. Hakeem could at least improve Roy's technique and footwork, even if he isn't quite the same athlete. It makes me sad when the best big man coach the Pacers have given Roy is Vitaly Potapenko.

Day-V

07-06-2011, 01:41 PM

I don't see how it would hurt. Hakeem could at least improve Roy's technique and footwork, even if he isn't quite the same athlete. It makes me sad when the best big man coach the Pacers have given Roy is Vitaly Potapenko.

He worked with Bill Walton last year.....

Taterhead

07-06-2011, 01:56 PM

He should definitely work with Hakeem, Deke, Smits, Zo and Ewing, Walton again......why not?

Hell why not Shaq? I think Shaq could be a great summertime tutor for Roy. You would probably be surprised what he could teach Roy about footwork in a short period of time. Larry Bird has the respect of all these guys and I'm sure he could make most of those happen. Even if it is just for a few weeks in the summer, Roy would definitely benefit from it.

ballism

07-06-2011, 01:57 PM

Kobe credited Olajuwon with improving his post-up game and footwork after only a two-hour workout. Same goes for Thabeet (http://www.myfoxhouston.com/dpp/sports/090926_olajuwon_works_with_grizzlies_thabeet).

The other option was to say "Hakeem didn't teach me nothing, i learned it all from tape, im just that awesome".

Since86

07-06-2011, 02:09 PM

Completely disagree. For sure, Roy could use a nice dose of confidence. But Olajuwon's preternatural anticipation and post-up instincts are something Hibbert will never, ever come close to duplicating through self-evaluation and playing pickup games with his Georgetown cronies, no matter how confident he gets.

I couldn't care less about Hibbert "being his own man." If he has the length and agility to be like Olajuwon, he'd be stupid--and an exponentially inferior player--if he did not emulate him.

I think the phrase, "walk before you can run" is quite applicable in this situaiton.

I don't care if Roy has the best footwook of all time, if he can't get it right inbetween his ears, then it's a waste of footwork.

Roy has plenty of skill around the basket, he doesn't need more in order to become effective. He needs confidence.

You can have all the tools in the world, but if you don't have the ability to actually use them, then they're just nice pieces that collect dust.